Capsule forceps



g- 1929- c. N. ANDERSON 1,725,172

CAPSULE FORCEPS Filed Sept. 12, 1927 avwenl cvc MM Ma MAI/43M Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES CARLISLE N. ANDERSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PARKE, DAVIS &

1,725,172 PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CAPSULE FORCEPS.

Application filed September 12, 1927.

The invention relates to an improved form of instrument adapted to be used for administering capsules to animals.

In feeding capsules to animals it is necessary that the capsule be inserted Well back in the throat to insure swallowing, and except in the case of small animals the insertion of the capsule must be made with instruments to avoid danger of being bitten. The object of the invention is to provide an instrument constructed in such a manner that it is inexpensive to manufacture, capable of being used efficiently with various sizes of capsules, capable of being easily manipulated and quickly. operated to release the capsule.

In order to attain the objects above enumerated, I have provided the novel forceps construction hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved instrument.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the looped end.

Figure 4 illustrates the use of the instrument in feeding capsules to animals.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in the drawings, the improved instrument is preferably made from a single piece of round spring steel rod which is fashioned into the desired configuration. Preferably there are the two arms A and B integrally connected by the U-shape bend C and extending for the greater part of their lengths in a common plane. The arms A and B preferably diverge slightly so that the outer ends are spaced slightly further apart than the ends adjacent the connection bend C. At their free ends the arms A and B are curved away from the common plane as indicated at D and the ends E are returned bent forming loops F and are joined to the curved portions D by welding, soldering or other suitable means. The loop F is elongated in form and is wider at the extreme end than at the point Where the returned bend E is united to the curved portion D. The size of the loop F is selected so that the ordinary small size capsule which is used for animals can be held by the looped ends. To aid in gripping the capsule it is preferable to provide the adjacent surfaces of the loop F with serrations G or other form of Serial N 0. 219,047.

roughened surface. These serrations surfaces of the loops that are adjacent but also are formed on the inner periphery of the loops so as to engage the portion of the capsule which extends into the space bounded by the loop. The arms A and B are preferably provided with flattened portions H located sufficiently from the bend C so that they are adapted to form finger grips. These flattened portions may be left with a smooth surface or if desired they may be knurled or otherwise roughened to form a better grip for the instrument.

The looped ends of the instrument are held apart by the resiliency of the spring material and are forced inwardly when it is desired to grip a capsule by applying manual pressure to the arms A and B at the flattened portions H. The advantage of the device as above described is that it is simple to manufacture and easy to manipulate,

Referring to Figure 4 it Will be noted that a capsule is being gripped by the forceps and the operator is about to insert the capsule into the throat of the animal. The arms A and B are sufficiently long so that the looped ends of the instrument can be inserted well back in the throat and the capsule may be firmly gripped by the instrument. to securely hold the same in the instrument. When the capsule is inserted to the desired point in the throat it is quickly released by merely releasing the manual pressure upon the arms A and B whereupon they spring outwardly and permit the capsuie to drop.

The instrument constructed as above described is of great practical value in administering capsules to animals and it is easier to operate and cheaper to manufacture than any other instrument heretofore constructed for the same general purpose.

The type of capsule ordinarily used with the instrument is a soluble elastic capsule which due to its flexible nature is adapted to be gripped by the looped ends and firmly held by the instrument. It isobvious however that my instrument is not limited in its use to the gripping of this particular typeof capsule but can be used with other types of capsules and may also be useful for other purposes.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A capsule feeding instrument comprisor roughened portions extend not only on the' ing a single rod of spring metal returned bent to form two arms which in one plane are slightly diverging, each of said arms being substantially straight for the greater part of its length, the free ends being bent to extend at an angle to the straight portions and provided with returned bent loops.

2. A capsule feeding instrument comprising forceps formed from a single piece of spring metal rod bended into U-shaped form, the free ends of said forceps being inclined and having elongated loops for engaging the capsules, the metal on adjacent faces of said loops being serrated and the serrations extending within said loops.

3. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a spring rod returned bent to form two arms, each arm having a flattened portion near the return bend to provide a finger grip, the ends of each of said arms being inclined and returned bent to form a complete loop, the metal within said loop and on the adjacent faces of said loops being roughened.

4. An instrument for feeding capsules comprising a U-shaped handle having an integral return bend, inclined gripping portions extending from the free ends of said handle, each of said gripping portions being provided with an elongated aperture and roughened portions surrounding said aperture and arranged on the adjacent sides of said gripping portions.

5. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a U-shaped spring metal piece, the free ends of which are bent to extend at an angle to the remaining portions, said free ends having enlarged looped portions for gripping the capsule.

6. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a single rod of spring metal returned bent to form two arms which in one plane are slightly diverging, each of said arms being substantially straight for the greater part of its length and provided with a flattoned portion forming a finger grip, the free ends being inclined to extend at an angle to the straight portions and provided with returned bent loops lying in the plane of said straight portion and said inclined portion.

7. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a U-shaped spring metal piece, the free ends of which are bent to extend at an angle to the remaining portions, said free ends being provided with openings into which a capsule gripped thereby may extend.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARLISLE N. ANDERSON. 

